Pat O’Rourke is a self taught photographer that likes to look at things differently. He embraces the challenge of capturing the mundane in a magical way. He likes cool lighting and the contradiction of manmade items in nature or vice versa.

What is your name and where do you live?
Hey my name is Pat O'Rourke and I live in Toronto.

Where you formally trained in photography?
No, not at all. I still know the bare minimum. I just grabbed a camera to document things I saw and ended up becoming obsessed. Over the years I have learned more about those who interest me as far as other photographers and their works, but technically I'm still an amateur.

You are a skateboarder right? How many cameras have you smashed?
Yeah I skateboard. I think I have broken every camera I've owned! Surprisingly, I don't recall many breaking while skateboarding, haha. I think I'm generally just stubborn when it comes to using camera straps or bags that can protect my belongings.

What makes you stop to take a picture?
I’m attracted to scenes in our everyday that are simple & mundane yet can be captured in a way that makes them fun, or surreal. This challenge makes me happy. I often see something and wonder how it would look from the opposite side of the street or super zoomed in. I feel like what I photograph makes me look crazy If you can't see the end result. I love photographing scenes that connect something natural & man made... for example a chocolate bar wrapper floating in a Lake, or a shopping cart abandoned in a forest.

I think you like to take pictures of reflections. Do you like reflections?
Yeah reflections are cool. Any sort of interesting light will probably catch my eye.

I think you like to take pictures of buildings. What is your favorite building?
I think that may just be a result of my surroundings. Toronto is a decent sized city with a large financial district and I’m often skating around here. I think I end up with a lot of photos of buildings from hanging around downtown with my camera. As far as my favorite building, thats hard...I don't think I have seen my favorite building yet!

What camera do you use?
I have so many half working cameras right now. Im always bouncing back and fourth between different digital & film cameras, but I usually end up coming back around to a Contax G1 or my Konica Hexar.

““I love photographing scenes that connect something natural & man made... for example a chocolate bar wrapper floating in a Lake, or a shopping cart abandoned in a forest.””

— Pat O'Rourke

What skateboard do you use?
Right now Im riding a 8.25 inch Habitat deck, but I'll ride whatever I can get my hands on.

Do you have anything agains rollerbladers?
Haha, no. That whole Skater vs Blader thing was more of a thing in the early 2000's when aggressive rollerblading was bigger and you would actually run into each other at skatespots, etc. Do people still do that though? I haven't seen someone doing tricks on rollerblades in years! Actually, funnily enough.. when I was younger, before I started skating, I saved up money for a pair of stunt blades and messed with those for a little, haha.

What kind of shoes do you wear?
A large variety! I really like shoes, they are one of my favorite things. Most often, you'll probably see me in a pair of Vans or some sort of impractical sneakers. I envy people who can rock just one pair or style of shoes everyday until they are destroyed, thats sick. I just like too many styles of shoes and like the option of swapping them depending on how I feel or what I'm wearing that particular day.